Richard Kiel

2.1. Birth and early life

Richard Dawson Kiel was born on September 13, 1939, in Detroit, Michigan, United States. His exceptional height was a result of gigantism, a medical condition caused by an excess of human growth hormone. By the age of 12, Kiel had already reached his adult physique, which made him an unparalleled player in school basketball. When he was nine years old, his family relocated to Los Angeles County, California.

2.2. Education

Kiel completed his secondary education in California, graduating from Baldwin Park High School.

2.3. Early career development

Before embarking on his acting career, Kiel held a variety of jobs. These included working as a door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman, a nightclub bouncer, and even a cemetery plot salesman. From 1963 to 1965, he also served as a night-school mathematics instructor at the William B. Ogden Radio Operational School in Burbank, California. At the age of 20, Kiel was discovered by William Conrad, which led to his debut in Conrad's television drama Klondike. In addition to his acting pursuits, Kiel also maintained a career in real estate.

3.1. Television career

Richard Kiel made numerous appearances in television shows from the 1960s through the 1980s. One of his most famous early roles was in the 1962 Twilight Zone episode "To Serve Man", where he portrayed the imposing 8.9 ft ^{(2.7 m)} tall Kanamit aliens.

He was frequently cast in villainous roles due to his size. He appeared as Voltaire, the towering, mute, and lethal assistant to Dr. Miguelito Loveless in three first-season episodes of The Wild Wild West: "The Night the Wizard Shook the Earth", "The Night That Terror Stalked the Town", and "The Night of the Whirring Death". In a later episode of The Wild Wild West, titled "The Night of the Simian Terror" (aired February 16, 1968), Kiel played Dimas, an outcast son of a wealthy family banished due to birth defects. This role was significant as it allowed Kiel the opportunity to demonstrate his acting range beyond just an intimidating physical presence.

Other television series in which he appeared include:

In 1977, Kiel and Arnold Schwarzenegger were both considered for the role of the Hulk in the American television series The Incredible Hulk. After Schwarzenegger was deemed too short, Kiel began filming the pilot. However, producers ultimately decided they wanted a more muscular Hulk rather than Kiel's towering frame, leading to his dismissal. Kiel later stated he did not mind losing the part, citing issues with the contact lenses he had to wear for the role due to his vision in only one eye, and finding the green makeup unpleasant and difficult to remove. His scenes were subsequently reshot with Lou Ferrigno.

3.2. Film career

Kiel's film career began in the early 1960s. His early films included The Phantom Planet (1961), Eegah (1962), and The Human Duplicators (1965), all of which were later featured on cult television shows like Elvira's Movie Macabre and Mystery Science Theater 3000. He also had a brief, uncredited, non-speaking appearance in the Jerry Lewis comedy The Nutty Professor (1963), leaving a gym.

The producers of the James Bond films noticed Kiel's performance in the television series Barbary Coast and considered him ideal for the role of Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). Jaws became one of the few Bond villains to appear in two films, reprising his role in Moonraker (1979). Kiel's portrayal was unique as he was the only recurring villain in the series who was not ultimately killed by Bond. He often had to be filmed with his mouth closed or only briefly showing his dangerous smile, as the mouthpiece designed to simulate his metal teeth was extremely painful and could only be worn for a few minutes per take. Prior to his iconic Bond role, Kiel had already played a metal-toothed villain, Reace, in the comedy-thriller Silver Streak (1976).

Kiel appeared in three films alongside Barbara Bach in the late 1970s: The Spy Who Loved Me, Force 10 from Navarone (1978), and The Humanoid (1979). In Force 10 from Navarone, he played Captain Drazak.

While many of his earlier roles offered little dialogue, his performance as Mr. Larson in Happy Gilmore (1996) was a notable exception. In this film, he exchanged several memorable one-liners with both Adam Sandler's Happy and Christopher McDonald's Shooter McGavin. After Happy Gilmore, Kiel maintained a quieter profile but came out of semi-retirement to voice Vlad in the acclaimed animated Disney film Tangled (2010), which was his final film role. Vlad was a surprisingly softhearted thug who collected ceramic unicorns.

Kiel also produced, co-wrote, and starred in The Giant of Thunder Mountain (1991), where he played Eli Weaver. Other significant film roles include Samson in The Longest Yard (1974), the "best-dressed giant" Mr. Eddie in So Fine (1981) with Ryan O'Neal, and Club in Pale Rider (1985), where he played the main antagonist's henchman who ultimately redeems himself by saving the hero.

His extensive filmography includes:

3.3. Video game appearances

Richard Kiel reprised his role as Jaws in the 2004 video game James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, providing both his voice and likeness for the character. His likeness was also used, uncredited, for Jaws in several other James Bond video games.

3.4. Writing and other works

Beyond his acting career, Kiel was also an author. He co-authored a biography of the abolitionist Cassius Marcellus Clay titled Kentucky Lion. In 2002, Kiel published his autobiography, Making It Big in the Movies. He was also a born-again Christian, and stated that his religious conversion helped him to overcome alcoholism.

4.1. Family and relationships

Richard Kiel's first marriage was to Faye Daniels in 1960, which ended in divorce in 1973. The following year, in 1974, he married Diane Rogers. Their marriage lasted for 40 years, until his death in 2014. Diane Rogers, at 61 in ^{(154 cm)} tall, was 25 in ^{(63 cm)} shorter than Kiel. Despite the significant height difference, Diane described their mutual attraction by stating, "We see eye to eye on so many things." Together, they had four children and nine grandchildren.

4.2. Health and later life

In 1992, Kiel suffered a severe head injury in a car accident. This accident significantly affected his balance, causing him to rely on a cane for support, which was noticeable in his appearance in Happy Gilmore. As he aged, Kiel's mobility further declined, leading him to utilize a scooter or wheelchair for assistance.

6.1. Critical reception and public recognition

Kiel was widely known as "the Gentle Giant" due to his towering stature combined with his amiable personality off-screen. His distinctive appearance made him instantly recognizable, and he was popular for his ability to embody unique and often intimidating characters while occasionally showcasing a surprising depth or comedic timing.

6.2. Cultural impact of iconic roles

His most enduring legacy is undoubtedly the character of Jaws from the James Bond series. Jaws became one of the most iconic and beloved Bond villains, distinguishing himself by appearing in two films, The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker, and notably, by not being killed by James Bond. This survival and his eventual turn to an unlikely ally in Moonraker made him a fan favorite, leading to his reprisal in various video games. The character's popularity was such that Kiel even parodied his own role as the "Famous Big Guy With Silver Teeth" in the 1999 film Inspector Gadget, further cementing Jaws's place in cinematic history. His role as Mr. Larson in Happy Gilmore also contributed significantly to his cultural footprint, showcasing his ability to deliver comedic lines effectively.